Recommendation 22

The Chief Veterinary Officer and the APHA confirmed that the Weybridge site does not have ACDP (Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens) level four high containment laboratory facilities. This is the highest containment level relating to diseases where there is a risk to human health.41 The Chief Veterinary Officer and the APHA explained that the UK current only has very limited ACDP level four capacity at Porton Down. Due to its size, Porton Down cannot undertake testing and research on large animals. The Chief Veterinary Officer cited the zoonotic disease Hendra virus in Australia that spreads from fruit bats to horses and potentially to humans. The UK does not currently have facilities that would allow the safe testing and research into such diseases.42 Funding the redevelopment programme